WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team had five individual champions and captured the program's sixth Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) championship and first since 1999.
The Presidents won the 2020 PAC Championship by the slimmest of margins, edging out second-place Waynesburg 106.5 to 106.0. Thiel finished third with 91.5 points. At the conclusion of the event, head coach
Tommy Prairie was named the PAC Coach of the Year.
Despite bringing a conference-high six top-seeded wrestlers to the tournament, W&J sat in third place entering the championship round, 10.5 point behind Waynesburg and two points behind Thiel.
W&J and Thiel each placed six wrestlers in the finals, while Waynesburg had eight wrestlers competing for PAC gold.
Manny Dovshek (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) captured his first PAC crown at 125 pounds with pins in the PAC semifinals and championship round. He stuck Thiel's Kace Sabedra in the first period in the semifinal and gave the Presidents their first individual champion by pinning Waynesburg's Austin Ryan as well.
Senior
Michael Heinl (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) won his third individual PAC championship, picking up a few bonus points along the way. The top seed at 149 pounds, Heinl pinned Maro Parry of Waynesburg before collecting an 8-4 decision over the Jacket's Jace Guy.
Hunter Neely (Cokeburg, Pa./Bentworth) made program history as the fifth W&J wrestler to become a four-time PAC champion, doing so at 165 pounds. In arguably the most competitive weight class in the entire bracket, Neely matched Dovshek with 16 team points. He pinned WU's Scotty Miller before securing a 16-6 major decision in the PAC finals against Zach Mackall of Waynesburg.
Jared Walker (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette), wrestling for the first time since Jan. 10, took care of business at 174 pounds to win his third PAC title. He scored a fall and 16-4 major decision over Cory Supan and Dillion Charlton, both of Waynesburg.
The PAC title was clinched by sophomore
Alex Donahue (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) at 197 pounds. With the 197 pound bracket only featuring three wrestlers, Donahue earned a bye to the finals and scored a 9-2 decision over Thiel's Landon Westover.
Daniel Florentino (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) reached the finals at 141 pounds, dispatching the defending PAC champion Matt Lascola 3-1 in the semifinals before bowing out to Thiel's Jason Baker 8-5.
The Presidents were helped by third-place showings in the consolation bracket by
Austin Washic (Colver, Pa./Central Cambria) at 149 pounds and
Logan Marko (Roaring Spring, Pa./Central) at 157 pounds. Following the conclusion of the event, W&J senior
Robert Craig (Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) was selected to the PAC Sportsmanship Team.
125 -Manny Dovshek (2-0) placed 1st and scored 16.0 team points.
Semifinal -
Manny Dovshek (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by fall over Kace Sabedra (Thiel) 1-1 (Fall 0:00)
1st Place Match -
Manny Dovshek (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by fall over Austin Ryan (Waynesburg) 1-1 (Fall 0:00)
133 - Zach Kremer (0-2) place is unknown.
Quarterfinal - Zach Kremer (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal - Harley Constable (Waynesburg) 2-1 won by fall over Zach Kremer (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (Fall 0:00)
Cons. Semi -
AD Nelson (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 won by forfeit over Zach Kremer (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (For.)
133 - AD Nelson (1-2) placed 4th and scored 4.5 team points.
Quarterfinal - Dylan Williams (Waynesburg) 1-2 won in overtime over
AD Nelson (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 (OT 4-2)
Cons. Round 1 -
AD Nelson (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi -
AD Nelson (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 won by forfeit over Zach Kremer (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (For.)
3rd Place Match - Devyn Giovengo (Thiel) 2-1 won by injury default over
AD Nelson (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 (Inj. 0:00)
141 - Vinny Palm (1-2) placed 4th.
Quarterfinal -
Vinny Palm (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 won by fall over Noah Grossnickle (Waynesburg) 0-2 (Fall 0:00)
Semifinal - Jason Baker (Thiel) 2-0 won by fall over
Vinny Palm (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 (Fall 0:00)
Cons. Semi -
Vinny Palm (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
3rd Place Match - Matt Lascola (Waynesburg) 2-1 won by decision over
Vinny Palm (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 (Dec 11-5)
141 - Daniel Florentino (1-1) placed 2nd and scored 9.0 team points.
Quarterfinal -
Daniel Florentino (Washington & Jefferson) 1-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal -
Daniel Florentino (Washington & Jefferson) 1-1 won by decision over Matt Lascola (Waynesburg) 2-1 (Dec 3-1)
1st Place Match - Jason Baker (Thiel) 2-0 won by decision over
Daniel Florentino (Washington & Jefferson) 1-1 (Dec 8-5)
149 - Austin Washic (2-1) placed 3rd.
Quarterfinal -
Austin Washic (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 won by major decision over Hunter Martz (Thiel) 1-2 (MD 10-0)
Semifinal - Jace Guy (Waynesburg) 1-1 won by fall over
Austin Washic (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 (Fall 0:00)
Cons. Semi -
Austin Washic (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 received a bye () (Bye)
3rd Place Match -
Austin Washic (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 won by major decision over Hunter Martz (Thiel) 1-2 (MD 13-2)
149 - Michael Heinl (2-0) placed 1st and scored 15.0 team points.
Quarterfinal -
Michael Heinl (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal -
Michael Heinl (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by fall over Marco Parry (Waynesburg) 0-2 (Fall 0:00)
1st Place Match -
Michael Heinl (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by decision over Jace Guy (Waynesburg) 1-1 (Dec 8-4)
157 - Logan Marko (2-1) placed 3rd and scored 8.5 team points.
Quarterfinal -
Logan Marko (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal - Austin Bonacci (Thiel) 1-1 won by decision over
Logan Marko (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 (Dec 8-1)
Cons. Semi -
Logan Marko (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 won by forfeit over
Zach Schrott (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (For.)
3rd Place Match -
Logan Marko (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 won by tech fall over Jake Longerman (Thiel) 0-2 (TF-1.5 0:00 (20-3))
157 - Zach Schrott (0-2) place is unknown.
Quarterfinal - Colby Morris (Waynesburg) 3-0 won by major decision over
Zach Schrott (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (MD 15-6)
Cons. Round 1 -
Zach Schrott (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi -
Logan Marko (Washington & Jefferson) 2-1 won by forfeit over
Zach Schrott (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (For.)
165 - Raheem Clemons (0-2) place is unknown.
Quarterfinal - Peyton Hearn (Thiel) 2-1 won by fall over
Raheem Clemons (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (Fall 0:00)
Cons. Round 1 -
Raheem Clemons (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi - Scotty Miller (Waynesburg) 1-2 won by decision over
Raheem Clemons (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (Dec 9-6)
165 - Hunter Neely (2-0) placed 1st and scored 16.0 team points.
Quarterfinal -
Hunter Neely (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal -
Hunter Neely (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by fall over Scotty Miller (Waynesburg) 1-2 (Fall 0:00)
1st Place Match -
Hunter Neely (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by major decision over Zach Mackall (Waynesburg) 1-1 (MD 16-6)
174 - Jared Walker (2-0) placed 1st and scored 15.0 team points.
Semifinal -
Jared Walker (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by fall over Cory Supan (Waynesburg) 0-2 (Fall 0:00)
1st Place Match -
Jared Walker (Washington & Jefferson) 2-0 won by major decision over Dillion Charlton (Waynesburg) 1-1 (MD 16-4)
184 - Alex Miller (0-2) place is unknown.
Quarterfinal - Luke Lavanaway (Waynesburg) 1-2 won by fall over
Alex Miller (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (Fall 0:00)
Cons. Round 1 -
Alex Miller (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi -
Jaden Datz (Washington & Jefferson) 2-2 won by forfeit over
Alex Miller (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (For.)
184 - Jaden Datz (2-2) placed 4th and scored 5.5 team points.
Quarterfinal -
Jaden Datz (Washington & Jefferson) 2-2 won by decision over Cameron Prebble (Thiel) 2-1 (Dec 6-3)
Semifinal - Daniel Verhovesk (Waynesburg) 2-0 won by decision over
Jaden Datz (Washington & Jefferson) 2-2 (Dec 2-1)
Cons. Semi -
Jaden Datz (Washington & Jefferson) 2-2 won by forfeit over
Alex Miller (Washington & Jefferson) 0-2 (For.)
3rd Place Match - Cameron Prebble (Thiel) 2-1 won by decision over
Jaden Datz (Washington & Jefferson) 2-2 (Dec 7-4)
197 - Alex Donahue (1-0) placed 1st and scored 12.0 team points.
Semifinal -
Alex Donahue (Washington & Jefferson) 1-0 received a bye () (Bye)
1st Place Match -
Alex Donahue (Washington & Jefferson) 1-0 won by decision over Landon Westover (Thiel) 1-1 (Dec 9-2)
285 - Jacob Walker (1-2) placed 4th and scored 5.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Jacob Walker (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 won by fall over Zacch Baughman (Waynesburg) 0-2 (Fall 0:00)
Semifinal - Gavin Colligan (Thiel) 1-1 won by decision over Jacob Walker (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Semi - Jacob Walker (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
3rd Place Match - Khalil Messai (Thiel) 2-1 won by fall over Jacob Walker (Washington & Jefferson) 1-2 (Fall 0:00)
